Tag: GSI Outdoors 15155

While a lot of folks reflexively turn to drip coffee as their beverage of choice, there is something about coffee from a percolator that draws people in – the stronger flavor is just one reason. People who make their daily brew in a percolator do so because, even though drip coffee is more popular, percolators actually have a few advantages that filter coffee makers just don’t have.

Advantages

1. A large number of the people who use percolators do so because the flavor is just downright bolder.

2. If you want to keep your mornings simple, you will like a percolator better, since there are no settings to program or filters to insert – just scoop the coffee in, add water, and set on the stove to brew.

3. This kind of coffee making is multi-sensory. While you are waiting for your coffee, you’ll be hearing it bubble, and smelling the coffee aroma swirling around your kitchen. This can make you feel right at home, even when you are camping.

4. If you like being in the outdoors, this is the most portable option. You’ll want a durable type of percolator to make sure it won’t break, but percolators can be used in the woods over a campfire or propane stove. An RV or even a hotel with a hotplate are all places you could make amazing coffee, instead of the watery coffee that is offered in hotel lobbies.

Disadvantages

1. The percolator’s lack of electronic settings does have one downside: there are no options. If you get tired of the percolator’s strong brew, you’re out of luck.

2. Additionally, there are a lot of glass percolators on the market, but you’ll want to be aware that they are fairly breakable. Make sure that you are ready to be very gentle with it, or invest in a percolator with only metal parts – especially if you plan to take it on that camping trip with you.

This percolator, which is made of stainless steel – no glass! – is large enough to up to eight cups. The choice of steel for the walls of the percolator means that it is durable enough for anything you put it through, an the sheen on it gives it a sleek, modern look.Other things that set this model apart are the rubber-coated handle to protect your hands from burns, and an interior coating that won’t react with the coffee to give it a metallic taste. This percolator can brew your favorite flavor of coffee, from a dark French roast to vanilla flavored coffee. The reusable metal filter basket means bi nire buying or disposing of paper filters. And finally, a transparent plastic knob in the lid will allow you to see the splashing, brewing coffee and know when it is done.

There are only a couple of downsides to the Classic Yosemite. One, it is not very fast at brewing coffee – other percolators can do the job faster if you want to save time. And two, because of the way it’s designed, this model occasionally holds water after being rinsed out, so you have to be careful to dry it thoroughly.

Pros

This percolator is fine in the dishwasher, which makes for easy cleaning.

It doesn’t require any filters.

Interior coating means no coffee can absorb into the steel inner wall, which also prevents stale coffee flavors from infiltrating your fresh pot of coffee.

This model is reasonably priced.

Cons

The knob sometimes becomes clouded or fogs up.

The marks that tell you how much water to put in are hard to see.

If the percolator is put on too high of a temperature, the plastic pieces may melt.

Nothing cues you to when the coffee is finished – there is no indicator light.

This GSI enameled percolator is well-constructed, and has a high-quality enameled finish. This model also has a sturdy handle. The attached lid means that the lid cannot fall off during use. There are two coating colors to choose from – red or blue. Between these two options, this model would fit well with almost any decorative scheme, whether in a kitchen or an RV!

This percolator makes bold, rich coffee that stands up to other, more expensive coffee brewing machines. If you want a percolator with a beautiful finish that can stand up to the rigors of camping or the outdoors, then this is the one for you.

Pros

Quite durable.

Lightweight design means it ill be easy to carry this model on camping trips.

The removeable filter is made of stainless steel.

Cons

Maybe you like the Farberware but can’t quite afford it yet – a more affordable option is the Medelco 8-Cup. This percolator is a great option for the money, but you do need to always use coarsely ground coffee. Otherwise, the coffee grounds will likely slip out out of the metal basket filter.

Pros

The cost! No other percolator does so much for the $10 you can buy them for online.

Ease of cleaning. You can either wash it by hand in the sink or place in a dishwasher. Both are easy and speedy options.

You can watch coffee brew – there is a small glass “button” that you can view the coffee through, which you can’t do with the stainless steel percolators.

You don’t need any paper filters, as long as you remember to only use coarsely ground coffee.

Cons

Breakable glass. If you are clumsy and prone to breaking things, you may want to choose something sturdier, like stainless steel.

Accidental burning. Just as with any other stovetop percolator, you’ll have to make sure you don’t leave the percolator on for too long. A burnt pot of coffee will taste sour. This will take a while, because you’ll have to both pay attention and (by experience) know exactly when to take it off the burner.

While this model functions well even at the $10 price point, there actually is a reason it is cheap – many of its parts are made of plastic. If you are using this percolator every morning, you might just want to pay a bit more so you can own a quality percolator.

Best Stovetop Espresso Maker – Bialetti 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Quite a few coffee connoisseurs think of Bialetti’s Moka Espresso makers as the best of the best when it comes to making espresso on your stove. Bialetti first made their Moka Express espresso maker in 1933, when it was created in Italy by the inventor Luigi de Ponti for an engineer named Alfonso Bialetti. The company that Bialetti named after himself still continues to manufacture this model of espresso maker under the name it had in 1933.

If you are looking for an authentic espresso experience, you just found it.

Several things set the Bialetti Moka Express apart from any other stovetop espresso maker out there. First is the way this pot is designed. This model has a proprietary shape – all their pots are made with an octagonal design. Luigi de Ponti, the inventor, ran through several different designs and decided that octagonal espresso makers diffuse heat more uniformly. This uniformity actually affects the aroma of your coffee – and the more fragrant the aroma, the tastier the coffee.

The second way this is the best of the stovetop espresso makers is that it has an unusual body, which is manufactured from polished aluminum. This makes the espresso pot durable, sleek, and quite light. The Moka Express has a signature spout, an attached top that flips up, and a handle made of Bakelite. Because the Moka Express has a spout, you can serve the espresso straight from the pot you brew it in. This is quite convenient and makes cleanup faster.

Third, the Moka express has an amazing capacity for brewing generous amounts of espresso at a fast pace: six ounces (three two-ounce cups) in a mere five minutes. For caffeine addicts, this is a huge perk.

To Consider When Shopping for Percolators

1. Capacity

When you are thinking of purchasing a percolator, the very first thing to consider is capacity. Think about how many of your family members drink coffee each day. If you have a big family, and they all drink a cup of coffee each day, or if you only have two people in your home that each drink a lot of coffee, you’ll need a large percolator.

Remember, percolators vary in size from a two- to four-cup size, up to a twelve-cup size. If your coffee is brewed only for yourself, you may be fine with a small percolator. But if your husband could drink a pot himself, you will obviously want to choose a large percolator.

2. Electric or Stovetop

Secondly, you’ll need to think about if you would like an electric or stovetop percolator. A stovetop percolator is more versatile, because you can use it on a stove, wood stove, and even a grill. No matter where you heat it you will still be drinking tasty coffee.

However, an electric percolator is extremely convenient, because all you need to do is plug in your percolator and let it work. This is the main advantage of an electric, plug-in percolator.

You should also be aware that if you do choose an electric model, you can’t use it off the grid (think: camping), or during a power outage.

3. Cost

One last thing to think about when choosing your percolator is the cost. Percolators do not cost as much as traditional models of coffee maker, and they can be even less expensive if you stick to the most basic model possible.

You’ll definitely want to consider a very basic percolator if your budget is small.

Why Buy A Percolator

Since we are living in a society that has already invented electric coffee pots, the big question is this: Why on earth would you buy a percolator?

There are a few good reasons:

1. The Coffee Has More Taste

It may be just personal opinion, but many people agree that percolators create a richer, more tasty coffee than other coffee makers. The taste is robust and rich, more so than coffee made in paper-filter coffee pots.

If “bold” is a word that appeals to you when it comes to coffee, you should definitely think about making your next cup of coffee with a percolator. Your opinions about coffee could completely change.

2. Serving is Easy

You might be the kind of person who always has coffee on hand when entertaining. For many, an evening with friends can’t end before a pot of coffee is served with dessert or a board game.

Serving coffee with a percolator is actually easier than with a regular coffee pot. First of all, it is easy to bring the percolator to the table, because it is sturdier than the glass pots of an electric coffee maker. Second, the percolator keeps the coffee warm for much longer than the traditional coffee maker, which needs to be placed back on the hotplate. You don’t want to be repeatedly walking to and from the kitchen! You want to be spending time with your friends.

3. Very Compact

Some people have plenty of counter space in their kitchens. Others only have a very small space to work with. If your kitchen workspace is limited, it is certainly an added burden to have your electric coffee maker on the already crowded counter. And even if stored, coffee makers still require a lot of room.

With a percolator, this is no longer a worry. A percolator is easy to plug in when you are using it, and just as easy to put away in a cabinet when you are done with it. No longer do you need to worry about losing already minimal counter space to a single-use gadget. Maximize that space – and still enjoy amazing coffee every morning – with a new percolator.